Category — Rockford

I doubt that there is a single sport that you couldn’t manage to find in Rockford, to be honest.  Actually, my husband brought up hurling, which is a traditional Irish sport, and I can’t seem to find that one available in Rockford.  But the rest of them are, of that I am sure.

Let’s start with the most obvious one, since Rockford has a long history with baseball.  The Rockford Peaches are no longer with us, but you can still see a great game at the Marinelli Field where the Rockford Riverhawks play.  The Riverhawks are Rockford’s own independent baseball team and part of the Frontier League.  Every game is like a party.

If you’re into hockey, then the MetroCentre is where you’ll find the Rockford Icehogs.  The Icehogs are part of the United Hockey League, and they always play an exciting game.  Soccer lovers will find the Rockford Thunder at the Indoor Sport Center in Loves Park.  Ice dancers and figure skaters can visit two venues for ice-skating: Carlson Ice Arena or the Riverview Ice House.

If you consider car and motorcycle racing a sport, and many do, then you should visit the Blackhawk Farms Raceway.  There is always a broad range of races, from amateur to professional events.  There is also the Rockford Speedway, which offers the NASCAR sanctioned Weekly Racing Series.  The track at the speedway is a quarter of a mile long and high-banked, which makes it perfect for high-speed races.

Rockford is also home to the Ski Broncs, a world-class water ski team that performs throughout the summer on the Rock River.  There is also a BMX racing facility at Searles Park that has been sanctioned by the ABA.  As I said, Rockford has a sporting event for everyone.

In addition to its rich athletic history, Rockford offers an astounding array of music and music venues.  Music lovers of all types will find something to enjoy during their stay.  Those that love to go to massive concerts will be thrilled with the MetroCentre, which has hosted acts like Motley Crue and Toby Keith.

Rockford hosts a huge music festival every Labor Day weekend called On the Waterfront.  The artists and bands that gather take over thirty blocks in the downtown area and play on multiple stages.  For three days, visitors and residents can enjoy music of all different genres and chow down on fabulous food from local vendors.

If your tastes run more to the classics, then you’ll want to visit the Rockford Symphony Orchestra at the Coronado Theatre.  The Coronado is also home to the Rockford Dance Company, the Rockford Coronado Concert Association, and the Land of Lincoln Theater Organ Society.  Traveling Broadway casts bring the magic of Broadway to the city of Rockford, as well.

There is also the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, which draws world-renowned artists and performers, and provides workshops, choral groups, scholarships, and recital series for young adults.  The Mendelssohn hosts an annual concert series that shouldn’t be missed.

Kantorei, the Singing Boys of Rockford, has been around since 1964.  The boys, aged seven to eighteen, have enjoyed international notoriety.  If you’ve never had the joy of hearing an all-boys choir, the Kantorei would be an excellent choice for your first time.

And then there is a little something for the jazz, blues, and folk music lovers.  Charlotte’s Web for the Performing Arts actually presents music of all kinds, including these and independent artists, giving Rockford and its visitors a place to enjoy music that doesn’t fall into the mainstream radio class.

Rockford has a long and illustrious sporting history.  Anyone that has seen the movie A League of Their Own knows that baseball has always been a way of life here.  Besides the Peaches, Rockford’s All American Girls Professional Baseball League team, Rockford has provide the baseball world some of baseball’s earliest icons.  The Forest City Baseball Club gave us greats like Albert Spaulding, Ross Barnes, and Adrian Anson.

Believe it or not, Rockford isn’t just a baseball town!  In fact, the city has been named number one in the United States for public golf courses in a mid-sized city.  There’s no need to be a member of the country club to play golf in Rockford, and there’s also no need for a pocket full of cash.  These quality golf courses have very affordable green fees.

Every one of the golf courses in the Rockford Park District has been awarded at least three out of five stars in the Places to Play ratings.  In fact, the Aldeen Golf Club and Practice Center was given four and a half stars by Golf Digest Magazine, and that is the highest rating available for a public course.  You can also check out the Westlake Village Golf Course or The Golf Club at Timber Pointe, which is actually semi-private.  This means that you can also purchase memberships.

For more options, you can step out of Rockford and into the rest of Winnebago County.  The Winnebago County Forest Preserves Golf Courses include Atwood Homestead, Ledges, and Macktown.  They are all public courses as well, and are open during the months of April through October.

If you just have time for a quick game, the Alpine Hills Golf and Practice Center offers a nine-hole course to the public.  Whatever your golfing desires, you’ll find the solution in Rockford!

Learning is not usually considered a very fun pastime at all.  In the land of baseball and every other sport known to mankind, all anyone wants to do is get outside and just play.  However, Rockford can make history, art, culture, and nature almost as fun as a day in the sun with a baseball bat.

There are so many choices, too, if you decide to spend an afternoon in one of Rockford’s many museums.  If the children are with you, then the Discovery Center Museum is an excellent choice.  There are over 180 exhibits, and many of them are interactive and hands-on.  There is also a planetarium that offers star and laser shows on a regular basis.

Another kid-friendly choice is the Burpee Museum of Natural History, which allows visitors to explore animals, rocks and minerals, native people, and fossils.  There are special events throughout the year, as well as workshops and classes.  They also just recently acquired a 65 million year old dinosaur!

If you’re interested in discovering your heritage, there are several places in Rockford that can make that possible.  The first is the Ethnic Heritage Museum, which explores the ethnicities of Rockford’s settlers, including the Irish, Italians, African-Americans, Polish, Lithuanians, and Hispanics.

You can also visit the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, which celebrates the ethnic diversity of the area.  The Graham-Ginestra House Museum is located in the heart of the original settlement of Rockford, and is a glimpse into the rich history of the town.

If you’re interested in the Rockford Peaches, the All Girls Baseball Team, then you should certainly visit the Midway Village and Museum Center for the display that is featured there.

Lastly, if art is your forte, the Rockford Art Museum features a permanent collection, but hosts visiting pieces throughout the year, as well as workshops and classes for the general public.